Obama said what?

dgriego

That is easy, because it always gets a reaction.

Ha!  That's true.  I was watching an interview with the creators of South Park, and they were talking about how they poke fun at and mock both sides, and the interviewer asks them which side is more fun to mock.  They said, That's easy!  Democrats.  Because just they get so upset about it.

Benedict

People using his middle name with the intention of being prejudicial...well...it's a weak argument, to me.

Not only is it incredibly weak (and a strong sign IMO that those doing it have no legitimate arguments to bring up against him), it's also incredibly disingenious (again IMO) when people claim to not "get" the issue surrounding it.

Myra

Benedict

People using his middle name with the intention of being prejudicial...well...it's a weak argument, to me.

Not only is it incredibly weak (and a strong sign IMO that those doing it have no legitimate arguments to bring up against him), it's also incredibly disingenious (again IMO) when people claim to not "get" the issue surrounding it.

Personally I find it no less than racist and bigoted.

Now this may be a naive thought of a permanent resident who can't vote...yet.

Does it really matter who gets voted for by the people when it is actually the electoral college that elects the president?  Does it really matter who the president is when the federal gov't acts in silos with little or no communication between departments?  How can one person, no matter how great they may be, overhaul the deep corruption that exists in government?

Now, I am not a fatalist, nor am I an anarchist.  I honestly want to know what you think... consider it some self education about the US gov't.

People are jumping all over this middle name thing, but I remember a thread on this forum not too long ago that turned into a Bush bashfest with all kinds of name calling and the folks doing that name calling didn't address the legitimate issues others brought up then, either, so it does go both ways.  Personally, I don't resort to name calling.  I can generate my own valid arguments about why I do or do not want to vote for someone based on their stances on issues.  Believe me, there is plenty to argue about when it comes to Obama that are much more serious and potentially dangerous for this country other than his middle name. 

VanMorrison

Now this may be a naive thought of a permanent resident who can't vote...yet.

Does it really matter who gets voted for by the people when it is actually the electoral college that elects the president?  Does it really matter who the president is when the federal gov't acts in silos with little or no communication between departments?  How can one person, no matter how great they may be, overhaul the deep corruption that exists in government?

Now, I am not a fatalist, nor am I an anarchist.  I honestly want to know what you think... consider it some self education about the US gov't.

Good points and also what impacts most people day-to-day has to do with local governments, but so many people pay ZERO attention to their local candidates, only on the presidential candidates. 

Liesje

Good points and also what impacts most people day-to-day has to do with local governments, but so many people pay ZERO attention to their local candidates, only on the presidential candidates. 

Great point.  People really don't pay much attention to their local governments, and that should change.  But it won't as long as these presidential campaigns keep getting longer and longer with more and more media attention.  By November, we'll all be so sick of both Obama and McCain we'll all just want them both to go away!

aerial1313

By November, we'll all be so sick of both Obama and McCain we'll all just want them both to go away!

LOL, by November?  How about now?

Ok, on topic.

http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=267

This report says that by keeping your tires properly inflated could save you, with today's gas price (I paid $3.669 this morning), as much as $528.

I personally drive below the national average. And I do maintain my car. So I would save less. I spend on average $100 a month on gas. Based on my last 2 year avg miles. I am now spending $1.24 a mile.

Based on the same report, an avg savings of 144 gallons of gas a year per car can be saved, this in turn is converted into the savings of 6.2 barrels of oil a year.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_gallons_in_a_barrel_of_oil

No idea of when this was last calculated, but lets borrow this number 143,781,202

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_cars_are_there_in_the_US

If you take 143.781.202 and multiply that by 144 you get 20.704.493.088 gallons of gas just in America that could be saved. Divide 20704493088 by 23gallons and you get 90.019.535.165.2 barrels of oil saved.

Are you all out checking your tires yet?

VanMorrison

Now this may be a naive thought of a permanent resident who can't vote...yet.

Does it really matter who gets voted for by the people when it is actually the electoral college that elects the president?  Does it really matter who the president is when the federal gov't acts in silos with little or no communication between departments?  How can one person, no matter how great they may be, overhaul the deep corruption that exists in government?

Now, I am not a fatalist, nor am I an anarchist.  I honestly want to know what you think... consider it some self education about the US gov't.

I personally look at the President as our CEO. Leadership ability is the number one thing I look for. Someone who can build a strong and effective team, who knows how to manage the silo system that we have. That can recruit and manage the best and the brightest in each respective field, who knows what advice is good, and what should be acted upon.

I agree that focusing on his name is totally bigoted and racist. I would be proud to have Obama as my President, not because of his name, or race, but because I think he is capable. He's proven he can run a successful campaign, and that he knows how to get people involved and to raise money (mostly small donations, no less).

For me, this election is about giving Americans a future we actually can believe will happen. Before any changes can/will be made, people have to have faith that their government is trying and is going to make progress.

I don't know why some people are making such a huge deal out of "experience" .... How much "experience" did Dubya have before getting elected?  Whatever it was, it sure didn't do him much good, did it?  He's going down in history as possibly the worst president we've ever had. So much for "experience."

Joyce

Indeed...his approval rating is atrocious....

Every candidate makes verbal flubs and faux pas'...it's unavoidable.  They ARE humans, much as we'd like to believe they're cold blooded lizards bent on world domination :-p

Personally, I'm a supporter of Obama.

I saw McCain on SNL that one time, and now every time I look at him, all I can think of is him singing "Papa can you hear me, papa can you see me?!"
 

chelsea_b

I just can't believe that otherwise intelligent people will seriously stoop to calling him B. Hussein Obama. Seriously...I find it really bizarre. As if someone's name defines them? As if Hussein being his middle name is actually something shameful? It's just a name, whether you like him or not... The incredibly ironic thing is a meaning of the name Hussein apparently is "good".

Come again?

That happens to be his name......are we not allwed to call him by his name? If I wanted to push th extra point I would have highlighted it or written it in capital letters.

Btw., I come from a military family and within that circle (also friends) he is being hated with a passion. He can go to Germany and hold his silly speeches, but going to visit a military hospital in Germany is just too much of a hassle for this idiot.

 He's an idiot for not going to a military hospital becauuuuuuse??

I'm going to guess here that like any other presidential candidate travelling abroad, he has a lot of security and a set itinerary that he has to stick to.  I doubt very much that he gets to pick and choose where he wants to go. Not stopping at a hospital, military or otherwise, hardly makes him an idiot.

Joyce